Stapling machine



F. PoLzER April 2o ,1926.

STAPLING MAGHInNE Failed March 17, 1923 nimm o di!" o A TTORNEYS' Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

UNITED` STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRIDOLIN POLZER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE E. H. I-IOTCHKISS COM- IE'ANY, OF NORVALK, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

STAPLING MACHINE.

Application filed March 17, 1923. Serial No. 625,738.

To all lwhom t may concern.'

Be it known that'I, citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stapling Machines, of which the following` is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in stapling machines of the type wherein pre-'formed staples in strip form are fed forwardl through the machine beneath a plunger the manipulation of which cuts olf, drives and clinches the staple. I

The machine of this invention is provided with a straightener and with means'for actuating the plunger and straightener, the straightener straightening the foremost staple on the strip before the staple has been severed or if the staple is not bent prior to the severing operation the straightener serves to prevent bending of the staple during this operation.

The straightener also serves as a guide during the driving` of the staple so that the latter after being severed from the strip is obliged to travel downwardly in proper position to be driven and clinched.

The forward end of the straightener initially is in advance of the forward or cutting end of the plunger and in one form of my invention the straightener is advanced to straightening and. guiding position before the plunger reaches staple-severing position, means, however, being provided between the plunger and straightener whereby the speed of the straightener relatively to the speed of the plunger is varied, preferably after the severing operation but before the plunger completes its journey, the lforward end of the plunger finallyy moving abreast ofthe forward endl of the straightener so that in the clinching of the staplethe straightener will not puncture the paper or other material being stapled.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown several illustrations of my invention.

Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of my invention in sectional elevation;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Figs. 3 and 4 are elevational and plan views respectively of the slide or cutting bar alonU which the strip of staples is fed during't ie operation of the machine;

Fig. 51s an end sectional. View of medi FRIDOLTN PoLZER, a

lication of the machine of Fig. 1, the connection between the straightener and plunger being somewhat modified with respect to the connection shown in Fig. 1; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar vto Fig. 5, showing several modified forms of connection between the straightener and plunger. In Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 respectively I have shown several forms of straighteners adapted to be employed in my improved machine.

Referring to the drawings in detail and first of all to the formof my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and Fig. 8,-1 designates the housing or shell of the machine within which are mounted the operating parts, this housing. being pivotally mounted as indicated at 2 on the base 3 of the machine, the base being provided with upstanding lugs 4 for this purpose. 5 designates what is known as the anvil of the machine. Secured to the lower part of the housing 1 by pins 6 is a slide or cutting bar 7 this bar being bevelled at its front end as indicated at 8 to provide a cutting edge 9.

The housing 1 is provided with a vertically extending channel or guideway 10 adapted to receive and guide a driving and cutting or severing plunger 11 one edge of which is adapted to cooperate with the edge 9 of the slide or cutting bar 7 to sever staples from a strip of pre-formed staples in the operation of the machine as will be hereinafter Lpointed out in detail. The front of the housing 1 adjacent the bottom of the channel lOis provided with an opening 12 through which the operation of the machine may be observed. The plunger 11 has a cap 18 secured to its upper end and is maintained in its upper position as shown in Fig.

1 by means of a coil 'spring 14 which surrounds the plunger, the upper end of vthis spring bearing against the under side of the cap while the lower end rests upon the top of the housing 1. The upward movement of the plunger is limited by a pin 15 which is adapted to be engaged by the upper side of a cam 16 carried bythe plunger.

Pivotally mounted within the housing 1 on a pin or pivot 17 is a cam 18 provided with a laterally extending projection 19 eX- tending into the path of the cani 16 on the aluno'er. r-secured to the end of the cani 18 is a feeder spring 2() which is in the form of a coil spring with one end hooked through the end of the cam and the other end bearing against the inside of the top of the housing 1. rl`he cam 18 also has secured to it a pivoted feeder pawl 21 adapted to engage behind the second foremost staple 22 on the staple strip when the` machine is in operation and as will be hereinafter pointed out to feed the staple strip forward. rlhis paw'l is held down back of the second staple by means of a small coil spring 23 one end of which is hooked into the cam 18 while the other end rests upon the top of the pawl. Pivotally mounted on a pin 24 within the housing 1 is a hold-back member 25 the front end of which is adapted to engage between the second and third staple on the strip of staples to prevent reaiwvard movement of the staple strip when the feeder pawl 21 is retracted. The hold-back member is held down in place by means of a spring 2G.

The housing in addition to the channel 10 is provided with a channel or guideway 2'! for the straightening member 28. This straightener, as will be seen from Fig. 8 for example is provided with a pair of spaced legs or fingers 29 adapted to straddle the center rib of the staple strip by which the staples are attached to each other, these legs or fingers being insertable from above the strip between the first and second staple so as to straighten the foremost staple should the same be bent and to hold the same in proper position for the severing and driving operat-ion. Usually the straightener moves to straightening position and straightens the staple before the severing operation but should both prongs of the staple be very much bent for example then the straightener is allowed to yield to permit of the staple being severed, whereupon the straightener moves downward again to straighten and guide the severed staple so that even ith such a staple means have been provided for straightening and guiding the same to insure proper operation of the machine.

The straightener is provided with an orice 30 at its upper end receiving a screw stud or lug 31 which is carried by the plunger. The straightener is also provided with laterally extending ears or lugs 31 which provide a support for the lower end of a coil spring 32 which lies within the coil spring 141 already referred to, the upper end of the spring 32 engaging the under side of the cap 13.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The strip of staples which I have designated 33 is fed into the machine through the slot 3st provided for that purpose, the strip resting upon and sliding along the upper face of the cutter or sliding bar 7. the strip being pushed forward into the machine until the foremost staple designated 35 projects beyond the cutting edge 9 of the cutter bar and engages the side of the channel 3G which channel is a guideway for the lateral flaiiges 3G on the plunger, and functions also to serve as a guide for the forward edge of the staple. With the strip in this position the feed pawl 21 lies between the second staple 22 and the third staple 37 the held-back pawl 25 lying between the same two staples. The machine is new ready for operation. The forward end of the housing is lifted from the anvil 5 to permit the insertion of papers or other material to be stapled. The plunger 11 and the straightener 2S are then moved downward by striling the cap 13, the spring 32 serving as an operative connection between the cap 13 and the straightener; in other words, the spring 32 sets the straightener in straightening and guiding position. During the lirst part of the downward movement of the plunger and straightener the latter travels in advance of the plunger until the legs or fingers 29 have straddled the central rib on the staple strip and have moved downward between the first and second staples 35 and 22 respectively to straighten the first staple should the same be bent. The plunger 11 as above pointed out is directly connected to the cap 13 while the straightener 2S is yieldingly connected to the cap by the spring 32 so that should the forward or first staple be so bent that the lingers cannot move to the position above described the straightener can yield without interrupting the movement of the plunger, the latter continuing its movement to sever the staple whereupon the straightener will, under the pressure of the spring 32 move to straightening and guiding position to hold the staple against turning during the driving operation, the straightener, it being understood, functioning as an auxiliary guide for guiding the rear edge of the staple.

After the lingers or legs of the straightener have reached staple-straightening position the plunger severs the foremost staple from the strip and thel further advancement of the plunger causes the staple to pass down the guideways 36 in the housing7 the front edge of the staple being guided by these guideways while the rear edge is guided by the straightener, until the staple is driven through the paper or other material being stapled and clinched on the anvil-5.

During this downward movement of the plunger and straightener the cam 16 on the plunger engages the projection 19 on the member 18 swinging the latter about its pivot to retract the feed lever 21 into position behind the third staple 37, the holdbael; lever 25, however, during this movement of the feed lever 21 preventing rearward movement of the staple strip.

Upon release of the cap 13 the spring 14 causes the cap to move upwardly carrying with it the plunger 11 and straightener 28 the screw or stud 31 engaging the upper part of the orifice or opening in the straightener to positively carry the latter upwardly. The upper movement of the plunger 11 carries the cam 16 out of engagement with the projection 19 permitting the spring 2() to swing the lever 18 about its pivot to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 thereby causing the feed lever 21 to feed the staple strip forward until the forward staple. en-

gages the side of the channel 36.

The slide or cutter bar 7 is narrower than the slot in the bottom of the housing 1 which receives it and plates p are provided beside the cutter bar so as tocompletely fill the slot in the housing. I-Iowever, these. plates stop short of the forward end of the cutter bar to provide pockets p at each side of the cutter bar to receive any severed but clinched staple, such a staple being free to fall out of the machine by simply raising the housing slightly. It is to be understood, however, that normally the straightener when the staple is being driven stands in front of the pockets p so as to prevent any staple entering the same.

Referring to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 5: The machine of this figure embodies a housing 39 within which I mount the operating mechanism already described in connection with Fig. 1, i. e., the feeding me-chanism, etc. The housing as in the case of the form shown in Fig. 1 is pivoted on a base 40 provided with an anvil 41. This machine is provided with a plunger 42 traveling in guideways 43 in the housing and has secured to the top thereof an operating cap 44. The top of the housing is provided with a recess 45 which receives the lower end of a coil' spring 46 the upper end of which bears against the under side of the cap 44. In this embodiment of my invention Iprovide a straightener 47 which is a modification of the formy of straightener shown in Figs. 1 and 8. The straightener is shown in detail in Fig. 9 and from this figure it will be'seen is provided with legs o-r fingers 48 and 49 which are adapted to straddle the center rib by which the staples are attached to each other and to be inserted from above the strip rbetween the first and second staples. The straight-- ener is provided with fianges 51 and 52 just above the fingers 48 and 49 adapted to partially encircle the4 sides of the plunger to thereby reinforce or straighten the straightener. If desired, however, the straightener need not be provided with these flanges but may be of the form illustrated in Fig. 10 and designated L. The top of the straightener is provided with ears 53 which project outwardly between adjacent coils of the spring 46 the spring above these Vears being under greater compression initially than the coils below. These ears also serve tocenter the spring. Formed on the plunger 42 isa lug 54 projecting through an orifice or opening 55 in the upper part of the straightener.

In the operation of this machine when the plunger and straightener stait their down-- ward movement the straightener is in advance of the plunger and by the time the plunger has reached severing position that portion of the spring 46 beneath the earson the straightener has been compressed sufficiently to equalize the action of that portion of the yspring above. the ears with the result that until the staple is severed the straightener and plunger are travelling at the same speed; but when the force exerted by that part of the spring below the ears on the straightener due to further movement of the plunger overbalances the force exerted by the remainder of the spring above the ears, the speed of the straightener willl be varied relatively to that of the plunger, the plunger now travelling faster than the straightener and completing its journey abreast of or slightly in advance of the lower end of the straightener, depending upon the setting of the spring.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, my improved machine comprises a housing 57 and a base 58 on which the housing is pivotally mounted as in Fig. 1, the housing ble'- ing provided with a channel or guideway '59 fora plunger 60 and straightener 61. At the top of the plunger 60 I provide a cap 62. The straightene-rV in this form of my invention is ysimilar to the straightener shown in Fig. 5, for example, being provided with legs 63 and 64 adapted to stra'ddle the center rib on the staple strip by which'the staples are attached to each other to be forced downwardly .from above the staple strip betwen the first and second staples onv the strip. Interp'osed between the cap 62 and the top of the housing 57 is a pair of coil springs and 67. They spring 66Vrests upon the top of the housing the upper end of the spring engaging the under side of the ears or lugs 68 on the top of the straightener. The spring 67 which is stronger than the spring 66 rests upon the top of the ears 68 while the upper end of this spring bears directly against the under side of the cap 62. It is to be understood of course that the interior mechanism of this machine, that is the feed mechanism, etc., is similar to that shown in Fig. 1. In operation, when the cap 62 is forced downwardly carrying with it the plunger 60 the straightener 61 will be moved down also travelling at the same speed as the plunger until Athe plunger reaches .severing position after which further movement ofthe plunger will compress the spring 66 sufiiciently to overcome llO the action of the spring 67 to thereby enable the plunger to travel faster than the straightener, the plunger reaching the end of its journey abreast of or in advance of the lower end of the straightener, depending upon the relative initial strength of the springs 66 and 67.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 7, 69 and 7() designate respectively the housing and base of the stapling machine. In the housing 69 is a plunger 71 of the same general form as those in the embodiment ot my invention above described this plunger carrying at its upper end a cap 72. A straightener 7 3 shown in detail in Fig. ll is slidably mounted on the housing, the legs or lingers 74C and 75 of this straightener as the machine is operated straddling the center rib of the staple strip by which the staples are attached to each other. The straightener in this instance is provided with a contracted portion 77 and with laterally extending lugs or ears 78. This contracted portion 77 of the straightener receives a coil spring 79 the lower end of which bears upon the lower shoulders 79 formed by the contracted portion 77 ot the straightener while the upper end ot the spring bears against the under side ot the cap 72, the ears 78, however, projecting outwardly between adjacent coils of the spring. Surrounding the plunger and the spring 79 is another coil spring 8O the lower end of which sets into a recess 8l in the top oit' the housing 69 and the upper end or' which bears against the under side ot the cap 72.

In the operation of this machine the plunger and straightener move together until the lower end of the spring seats in the bottom of the recess 8l w ereupon the spring 79 will be compressed to vary the speed of the straightener relatively to that of the plunger the plunger reaching the end of its journey abreast of or slightly in advance of the straightener as desired.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided an improved stapling machine wherein the speed of the straightener relatively to that of the plunger is varied before the plunger completes its journey thereby enabling the plunger to start with its forward end behind the straightener and to complete its journey with this end abreast of or in advance ot the lower end of the straightener as may be desired. This permits ot the straightener moving to straightening and guiding position in advance ot the severing operation and to thereafter travel downwardly with the plunger but at a different rate ot speed. lSuch an arrangement is of distinct advantage in a machine of this character inasmuch as while permitting of proper functioning of the straightener, it at the same time avoids the necessity of providing a positive stop :tor the lower ends of the legs of the straightener, such a stop becoming burred in time and also burring the legs of the ladder to destroy the proper functioning of the machine.

IV hat I claim is:

l. A stapling machine comprising a housing, a plunger, a staple-straightening member adjacent said plunger slidably mounted in said housing, and means for effecting movement of the staple-straightening means throughout the travel of the plunger but at a diiferent rate of speed during a portion of the travel ot the plunger.

2. A. stapling machine, comprising a plunger and a straightener, and means tor effecting a movement ot the straightener co-incident with the movement of the plunger but at a dii'lerent rate of speed than the plunger during a portion of the stroke of the plunger.

3. A stapling machine comprising a plunger, a straightener, and means to effect a movement ot the straightener coincident with the movement of the plunger in such manner that the straightener travels at the same speed as the plunger initially but at a lower speed during the remainder of the plunger stroke.

4. In a stapling machine the combination of a housing, a plunger, a staple straightening means adjacent thereto slidably mounted in said housin0f and spring means actuated by said plungei for operating the straightener and adapted to cause the straightener to move initially at the same speed as the plunger and subsequently at a slower speed than the movement of the plunger.

5. In a stapling machine, the combination ot a housing, a plunger, a staple straightening means adjacent thereto slidably mounted in said housing, and spring means actuated by the plunger for pressing down the straighening means and adapted to exert a varying downward pressure 0n the straightening means during the complete stroke of the plunger.

6. In a stapling machine thev combination or a housing, a plunger, a staple straightening means adjacent thereto slidably mounted in said housing, and spring means exerting opposing upward and downward pressure on said straightening means, said spring means being actuated by said plunger to move said straightening means.

7. In a stapling machine the combination of a housing, a plunger, a staple straightening means adjacent thereto slidably mounted in said casing, and spring means for exerting opposing upward and downward pressure upon said straightening means, said plunger being arranged to actuate the straightening` means through said spring means whereby the straightening means initially moves with the plunger and subsequently at a slower speed than the plunger.,

8. In a stapling machine the combination ger7 said springs opposing each other in the of a housing, a plunger, astaple-straightener operation of the machine Whereb7 the slidably mounted in said housing, a spring straightener and plunger move together at 10 surrounding said plunger and straightener diferent speeds. 5 and interposed between the straightener and This specification Signed this 15th day housing, and an additional spring interof March, 1928. f posed between said straightener and plun- FRIDOLIN POLZER. 

